Okpe is a kingdom in Delta State,

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. Today, it is also the name of a local government area. It is one of the many kingdoms that make up Urhobo tribe. Its capital is

Orerokpe Orerokpe is the headquarters of Okpe LGA in Delta state, Nigeria and the seat of the Orodje of Okpe Okpe is a kingdom in Delta State, Nigeria. Today, it is also the name of a local government area. It is one of the many kingdoms that make up ...

. The kingdom plays host to the

Osubi Airport Osubi Airstrip is an aviation facility located in Osubi, within Okpe Local Government, serving the city of Effurun, Warri and its environs in Delta State, Nigeria. It is about northeast of the city. Osubi is a town in Okpe Local Government ...

(also known as Warri Airstrip), which is actually located at Osubi and the Delta State Trade Fair Complex. The Orodje celebrated ten years on ancestral throne. Geoffrey Arich is the king of Okpe Kingdom, Kenyan Branch. The kingship is usually rotated between the four ruling houses.

History

The Okpe kingdom was established as early as the 17th century. It has a traditional ruler with the title Orodje of Okpe. The Okpe people are known to have migrated to found the present day

Sapele ''Entandrophragma cylindricum'' is a tree of the genus ''Entandrophragma'' of the family ''Meliaceae''. It is commonly known as sapele or sapelli ( ) or sapele mahogany, as well as aboudikro, assi, and muyovu. Origin of the name The name ''sap ...

and the Orodje of Okpe still exercises authority over the land of

. The first king produced by this system was H.R.M. Esezi I, Orodje of Okpe whose sovereignty was around the period of 1770-1779. H.R.M. Esezi II, became the second Orodje of Okpe. As a pioneer advocate of democracy in the land of okpe, he also was pivotal to Nigeria. He was among the delegated kings that attended the 1957 Lyttelton Conference held in London in order to seek the Nigerian independence from the indirect government of the colonial master. He ruled the kingdom around the period of 1945-1966. H.R.M Orhoro I, the third Orodje of Okpe ruled the kingdom from around the period of 1972-2004. He was educated at a catholic school and also served in the Nigeria police force. He later earned a Business Administration Diploma in the United Kingdom. His early life experience served him well as a springboard for establishing and becoming a director of a company, the New Africa Industries Limited. H.R.M Orhue I Orodje of Okpe, is the fourth and current king of Okpe. He served as a high-ranking major general in the

Nigerian Army The Nigerian Army (NA) is the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is governed by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC). The Chief of Army Staff is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Army. History Formation The Nigerian ...

. He was officially crowned on 29 July 2006.

Notable people

*Gen.

Patrick Aziza Patrick Aziza (23 December 1947 – 16 August 2014) was the first military Governor of Kebbi State, Nigeria after it was split off from Sokoto State on 27 August 1991 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Birth and early career ...

* David Dafinone *

Joseph Karakitie Azigbo Joseph Karachiite Azibu (1918–1986) was the oleogum of Okpe Kingdom in Nigeria. In the 1950s, he achieved success as an industrialist and became one of the richest men in Nigeria. During the Nigerian Civil War, most of his properties were seized ...

* Harris Eghagha

References

* Joseph O. Asagba: The Untold Story of A Nigerian Royal Family (The Urhobo Ruling Clan of Okpe Kingdom), iUniverce, Inc, 2005 {{Authority control Delta State History of Nigeria Nigerian traditional states